OK so this will be my penultimate post on the 2013 US Open as it draws to a close and the focus of this post will be on the ladies final, which was set to be an epic clash between the world's two best players, Serena Williams and Victoria Azarneka. So let's have a look at this match then......
Rrrrrrrrrright well the match itself was played in tough windy conditions, akin to the same conditions of the men's final last year, so play was bound to be error bound and scrappy. However both Serena and Vika with so much at stake in this final were more than up to the challenge, and it was actually Vika that got off to the more solid start as despite going a break down, she broke back and went on to hold more confidently than Serena did who's generally top class serve was going all over the place. However play went by serve until 5-5, and against all the odds it was Serena who broke Vika to move ahead 6-5 to then close out the first set. In the 2nd set the conditions played their part again (not to mention the wind kept blowing up Serena's skirt!) and there were breaks aplenty in what turned into an absoltely thrilling contest as Vika fought back from 4-1 down to push the set into a tiebreaker. The breaker itself was magnificent also as both players pushed themselves to the limit as their grunting grew more vociferous as each point was played, particularly at 6-5 for Vika and Serena levelled by hitting a ferocious winner to go 6-6. However it was Victoria that made the crucial minibreak and sealed the breaker 8-6 to level the match at a set all. The 3rd set promised to deliver more of the same and to an extent it did, however Vika's serve let her down badly as she served to try and go 2-2, she surrendered her serve and let Serena take the break, who confidently moved ahead. And Vika continued to struggle on her serve as she went down a double break, leaving Serena the golden opportunity to serve it out. However Serena did suffer a few minor jitters in doing so as Vika made a last stand by pushing her 40-30, but in the end Serena won the game, set and match to claim her 5th US Open title, with a superb 7-5, 6-7 (6-8), 6-1 victory.
There is no doubt this was one of the greatest ladies US Open finals for many years, and its also remarkable that prior to their previous terrific final last year, there hadn't been a ladies final at Flushing Meadows that went the distance for 16 years! So the fact that we managed to get another that was of such high quality was a real treat, and there is no doubt that the two best players in the world were out there last night slugging it out. And while the quality of play was mixed at times due to the wild and windy conditions, there was no doubt that it really was a thrilling contest, and both women played some magnificent points for the enthralled full capacity crowd at Flushing Meadows. And when you have a great final in New York, there is no better a crowd behind two players, as the noise is just unbelievable and the atmosphere nothing short of electrifying.
And while Serena once again showed her true fighting champion qualities, it was Victoria Azarenka that really announced her arrival to the world in this match as she put up such a tremendous fight against perhaps the greatest player to have played the game. And I think Vika deserves a great deal of credit for showing her fighting qualities and such great heart against a real thoroughbred champion. However it was a pity that she dropped her serve early on in the 3rd set as it really could become an even better contest if she hadn't, and in the end the double faults on Vika's serve cost her. But this match also continues to cement this thrilling and growing rivalry between Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka, and there is no doubt that the last four hard court matches they have played have all been classics. And this is something the women's game desparately needs and at last its great to say we have one as if carries on like this, Williams and Azarenka's rivalry could become one of the great modern rivalries in the ladies sport.
So once again the spoils go to Serena Williams, and there is no denying that deserves it as early on in the match she really struggled in the conditions and found it difficult to even get her serves in, but as the match progressed, like all great champions, she found a way to get it done. And as for Victoria Azarenka well she can take great heart in knowing she gave her opponent a real battle and she is literally the only player in the world that can give Serena a match and go toe to toe with her, and withstand her power and pace in long rallies. And I really think that one day Vika will get her chance to win against Serena in a major final as each time they play you see her get that bit better. And with the year end championships in Istanbul not too far off, which will be at the end of October, I'm sure these two will have a chance to compete again, and we will see how it goes there.
Right so that's it for now, and that's one final over with and it was some final, next up is the men's between the two former champions Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, who both have a chance to claim their second title in New York. And there is no doubt this should be a real classic, but time will soon tell all, but if its anything near as good as their 2011 final, we are going to be in for a longggggg night. :-)
Anyway that's it for now and a big congrats once again to Serena Williams for winning her 5th US Open title and to Victoria Azarenka for putting up such a great fight. So I'll report back with the result of the men's final and who will lift the champions trophy.
Until the next one, bye the now!
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